On this day: January 1
POSTED: 01:21 PM PST Dec 31, 2012
UPDATED: 11:00 PM PST Dec 31, 2012
Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, Ellis Island opens, the Rose Bowl becomes the first college bowl game, Hank Williams dies, and the Y2K panic fizzles out, all on this day.
Library of Congress
1911: Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Greenberg, one of the premier power hitters of his generation, is born in New York City. Greenberg, who played all but one season of his 13-season MLB career with the Detroit Tigers, was a five-time All-Star, was twice named the American League's Most Valuable Player and won two World Series titles with the Tigers. He still holds the AL record for most RBIs in a single season by a right-handed batter and also became famous as the first Jewish superstar in American professional sports.
